The Bank Game

The Bank Game isolates the concept of exchanging—trading 10 units for 1 ten, 10 tens for 1 hundred—essential for understanding carrying and borrowing.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Mathematics
• Learning area: Decimal System
• Level: Ages 4-6

Objectives

• Practice exchanging between categories
• Understand 10-for-1 trading
• Build regrouping fluency

Materials

• Golden Beads: large supply
• Small numeral cards
• Tray
• 'Bank' area with bead supply

Instructions

1. Give child a tray of loose beads (e.g. 15 units). 2. 'You have too many units. Go to the bank!' 3. Child counts 10 units, exchanges for 1 ten-bar. 4. Returns with 1 ten and 5 units. 5. Practice with larger quantities. 6. Exchange tens for hundreds, hundreds for thousands.

Educator tip

Role-play the 'banker' enthusiastically. Children love the social aspect of trading at the bank.

Assessment

Child performs exchanges accurately in both directions.

More from Mathematics

• Numeral Card Composition
• The Change Game
• Golden Bead Number Dictation
• Static Addition (No Exchanging)
• Multiplication with Golden Beads
• Division with Golden Beads
• Stamp Game Addition
• Stamp Game Subtraction